Potpourri With Herbs And Essential Oils
By: Sharon
Hopkins -
Potpourri is defined as mixture of dried flower, herbs, leaves,
roots, barks and spices providing fragrance. Placed either in
decorative wooden bowl, tied in small bags made from sheer fabric
or specially designed pot pourri vase, a potpourri can last long if
blended correctly. The word potpourri comes from the French meaning
"rotten pot".
Its uses are many. You can use it to perfume the air, keep it in
closets or drawers, make room decorations with attractive baskets
or bowls or make personal gifts to share it with family and
friends. Dry potpourri consists of dried, scented, crisp materials
concocted for fragrance as well as beauty.
The basics of potpourris are simple and few. Dried or fresh
sweet-smelling plant materials, other aromatic ingredients like
whole spices, bits of citrus peels or shavings of pleasant smell
wood chips; essential oils and fixative which combines with the
essential oils to preserve their fragrance. Aromatic plant
materials include rose petals, marigold flowers, foliage, lavender,
mints, and fragrant herbs of all kinds. Fixatives fix the aroma
i.e. they make the scent or fragrance last longer. They come in
dried, powdered or liquid form. Common fixatives are orris root;
oak moss, cellulose, and benzoin.
The best herbs for potpourri are lavender, scented geranium leaves,
lemon verbena, lemon balm, and mints. Dry them, and then make your
own mix. Sprinkle with essential oils to extend the life of the
potpourri. By adding a little of this and that you become familiar
with the process and begin to creating your own blends.
Choose from variety of themes such as - woody, floral, spicy,
fruity or citrus for making a potpourri. Assemble and blend your
flowers, herbs, leaves, etc accordingly. Mix the fixative with the
spices and sprinkle few drops essential oil for fragrance. Blend
well, seal and store in warm dry dark for place for a month or so.
Choose pretty containers, jars and bowls, to display.
Below are few common potpourri recipes that any amateur can start
with -
Basic Rose Potpourri - Blend 1 tsp of rose essential oil to 3 tbsp
coarse ground orris root and let it sit for a few days. If you add
2 tbsp each of ground cloves and cinnamon, the blend will emit a
spicy fragrance. 2 cups lavender and ¼ cup ground tonka bean exudes
a sweet floral scent. For a musky scent, add 1 cup patchouli leaves
and ½ cup sandalwood and vetiver root. For a fruity fragrance, 1
cup each of dried citrus peel, rose, lemon scented geranium leaves
works wonders.
Balsam Fir Potpourri – Blend 1 cup balsam needles, ¾ cup sweet
woodruff leaves, 1 cup dried violet blossoms, 1 cup lavender, 2
tbsp salt, ¼ cup bee balm blossoms and 1 oz balsam Peru tincture.
Shake the mixture occasionally and let it age for a month or
so.
To make potpourri as Xmas gift – mix 1 cup each of whole allspice,
star anise, ginger root, and sassafras bark, 2 cups each of orange
peel, lemon verbena leaves, and rose buds and petals and 30 drops
allspice oil. Seal and let set to "cure", shaking occasionally.
For Citrus Blend - 4 cups lemon verbena leaves, 2 cups lemon balm
leaves, 2 cups orange mint, 2 cups lemon, lime or orange scented
geranium leaves, 1 cup apple mint, 4 cups ground citrus peel, 4
cups marigold or calendula petals, 2 cups orris root, mixed with 1
tbsp orange oil and 1 tbsp lemon oil. Seal and let it set with
occasional shaking.
Article
Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
Sharon Hopkins manages aromatherapy sites
offering information on Aromatherapy Recipes and Blends for skincare,
beauty and well being. Learn how to make potpourri with herbs &
essential oils for spreading fragrance.
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